Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for American Samoa recorded an inflation rate of 0.1 % for the third quarter of 2026. However, the quarterly percentage change (qpc) showed a decline of -2.8%. 

Annually, the Food Group accounts for the highest expenditure at 1.1 %, while the Alcoholic Group is the top expenditure quarterly at 1.3%.

ANNUAL GROUP MOVEMENTS

The Food Group is the highest expenditure group at 1.1 %, followed by the Housing Group with a 0.6% increase.

Education and Communication rose by 0.2%. Both the Apparel Group and Other Goods & Services Group increased by 0.1 %. In contrast, four groups have gone through declines. The Entertainment Group saw the largest decline at -3.6%, followed by the Alcoholic Group which fell to -2.1 %. The Transportation Group decreased by -1.5%, and the Medical Care Group declined by-0.6%.

QUARTERLY GROUP MOVEMENTS

Only two groups have seen increases this quarter: the Food Group and the Alcoholic Group, while all the other groups went through declines. The Food Group has seen an increase of 0.9%, reaching an index of 150.5 points, which is 1.4 points higher than last quarter's index of 149.1. 

Four food items have experienced price increases of over ten percent. Three of these items are vegetables: cucumbers (10.2%), onions (12.4%), and bananas (13.6%). The fourth item is instant coffee, which rose to 14.5%. Additionally, thirty-four other food products have also increased in price, including pancake mix, corned beef, tea bags, and mayonnaise. Despite forty-five percent of food products experiencing increased costs, twenty-eight percent have seen a decrease this quarter, including eggs (-4.9%), cabbage (-3.9%), salt (-3.0%), pork ribs (-2.7%), and pigs feet (-2.6%). 

In contrast, twenty-seven percent of products remained stable such as flour, bread, ice, chicken wings, and water. The Alcoholic Group is the largest expenditure group, increasing by 1.3%. Distilled spirits remained unchanged this quarter, while beer costs increased to 2.9% and wine increased to 8.9%, averaging $28.83 for a 4-liter bottle.

The Housing Group fell to -3.9%. Housing items that have dropped in price include weed whacker (-5.0%), baltic powder (-1.5%), construction tools (-0.7%), construction materials (-0.5%), and water heater (-0.4%). 

Several items have increased, consisting of gas stove (3.3%), electric stove (1.5%), and other living room furniture (1.0%). Moreover, the costs of electricity and water have continued to rise this quarter, with electricity increasing by 6.5% and water by 2.0%. The price of electricity per kilowatt in August was 0.49 cents, which is 3 cents higher than the rate reported last quarter in May 2026. 

Most housing items have remained unchanged this quarter, including the gas tank, freezer, toaster, rice cooker, and chainsaws.

At -2.1 %, the Apparel Group has also declined. Most Apparel items have not changed, while five items have experienced price increases. These include infant diapers (3.3%), other women's/ girls stuff (0.3%), women's decreased by 2.4%. Among the eight products monitored, only non-prescription drugs changed, with a -2.4% decrease.

The Entertainment Group declined by -1.4% this quarter. Only seven items have changed, while the rest of the products have remained constant. Of the items monitored, two experienced a price decrease while five saw an increase. Home stereo and entertainment costs fell by 3.8%, and the price of a flat-screen TV dropped by 12.8%. 

The five items that increased in price include sewing materials (0.8%), cat food (0.5%), bingo paper (0.4%), lace material (0.02%), and fishing equipment (0.01%). 

Additionally, the Education and Communications Group declined by 5.3%. Among the seventeen items tracked in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), only primary school tuition increased by 2.5%.

With the second highest decline, the Other Goods & Services Group fell by -6.2%. Hair conditioner (-0.5%) and hair shampoo (-0.4%) prices have dropped, whereas toothpaste (0.2%), soap (2.2%), and laundry (0.4%) costs have gone up.

The Transportation Group is the group with the highest decline at -11.0%. After having the highest increase last quarter, prices for gas and diesel have slowly gone down; gas dropped to -1.5%, and diesel to -12.5%. The only transportation item that has gone up this quarter is airfare costs at 2.6%. Even so, ten items have stayed the same, including tires, auto tune-up, bus fare, and automotive purchases. 

Average gas and diesel prices are as follows:
Gas:                Diesel:
Q3/2025: $4.12        $4.39
Q4/2025: $4.06        $4.38
Ql/2026: $4.01        $4.27
Q2/2026: $5.50        $7.24
Q3/2026: $5.02        $6.33

COMPARATIVE COST OF SELECTED GOODS AND SERVICES IN MANU' A

Eleven stores in Ta'u, Ofu and Olosega islands were selected and 28 commodities including Food (21 items), Housing (2 items), Alcohol (2 items), Miscellaneous (2 items) and Transportation (1 item) were priced.

The cost differential for Tutuila and Manu'a is reported to be 74.80%. As with last quarter, many products are limited or unavailable due to high shipping and transportation costs from Tutuila. Additionally, some stores are still closed because their owners are away from Manu'a for business and personal reasons.